Happy Birthday Emma

I had to do what every mother with a baby turning ONE does...let them smash cake in their face.

Emma on the other hand didn't really want anything to do with it. She stuck her hand in the frosting and ate a few of the candy's off of the top but after that she was about done with it. 

Very surprising to me because she is usually a mess during dinner time.

 And this is her "done" pose....right before she starts screaming to getup.

I still cant believe I have a 1 year old!

Emma's First Year

The past year of my life has been a true blessing. Of course have been the difficult times thorough it but the amazing times that come make me forget about anything that has been challenging. I hope my little girl knows how much her mommy and daddy love her. 

 The memories that I have experienced in my 30 years of life have not even come close to the past year.  I understand now why some people chose to have a army of kids. 

I do not want the army....but I get it.

 Her smile when she sees me no matter if I have been gone for a hour or just 60 seconds. 

The hug when she walks over after she does something she is proud of and wants to celebrate.

Grabbing at my legs while I am trying to make dinner.

Her laugh histaricly when I tickle her belly and feet is priceless.
I could go on forever....

Being Emma's mommy is such a amazing experience and I am so lucky she is mine.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sweet Girl!
I hope you have many many more wonderful years.

And just because I was thinking that I could get EVEN better photos holding the letters....

I think there was a little tooth poking out on this day..and also the shadows don't help.
Her ears are not nearly that big .

My goal is to make a canvas every year on near Emma's birthday.

One last photo as a smiley 11 month old

Last sleep as a 11 month old.

 <3

12 Month Update

 February 27

 Oh my sweet girl.

I can't believe you are a year old. 

Time really does fly when you're having fun. 

~ She is walking full speed ahead. 

~ 7 teeth. 4 on top 3 on the bottom

~ Loving solid foods. And throwing them too.

~ Putting her down for her naps and bedtime has gotten so much better. It used to be a 30-40 minute ordeal with a ton of screaming. It now is a diaper change, book/song, a kiss goodnight and just laying her down and walking away. Its been so nice. She is still waking up 3-5 times during the night but its not so stressful when I lay her back down during those times.

~ First pair of shoes
She had quite a few pairs but she is still quite small and still don't fit them so we bought her these that are adjustable.

 On a walk

~ She heads to the doctor soon for her vaccines.
Its worrying me a little just because she is so little and the shot at one year of age is so scarey. I have already called and pushed the appointment back a week. Its probably all in my head but I am still  apprehensive.

~ She has been working on climbing on furniture. I am not sure if I am loving her new activity but it is what it is.

~ Loves to wash her hands...more so just the water running. Bath time she is by the spout the whole time, hand under.

~At ALL TIMES she has to be holding something. Usually it is something that isn't even one of her toys. Nail polish bottle, sample size shampoo bottle, hair clip. and this "thing" will not be let go for anything!

~She really seems to like to play pass the toy with your mouth. She will come close to me with one of her toys in the mouth and makes me take it with my mouth. We pass this toy back and forth like that a good 6-7 times...in till she gets board.

~She is loving her books lately! Not really sitting and letting me read to her but turning the pages. I try to get her to look at the pictures but she just wants to keep flipping.

~ She has started associating things with words. She 100% knows Bolo's name and that he is the big thing that lives in our house.

~She is dominating her My Gym classes. She wants to climb, jump and scale everything that she can get her hands on.

Stay tuned for all of her fist birthday pictures!
:)

Wordless Wednesday

North Shore Fun

We always have such a good time when we head to the North Shore. 

When you think of a "local Hawaii town"...that is Haleiwa.

Everyone's outside on a bike/skateboard...no shoes...bathing suit...salty hair...tan body's...surfing...fishing...you get it right?

I bought Emma a life jacket so we could have some fun on the water before we move. 

 Haleiwa river is the perfect place to test it out.

 

She was ready! 

 She was the stillest she has ever been. 

The child does not EVER stop moving...and she just laid there.

it was amazing!

 My waterproof camera makes it really hard to see what you are taking pictures of so I was pretty much blind shooting. This was the only one that I took with all three of us...after many attempts.

 I still cant believe how calm she was with this bulky life jacket.

 Laying down to see the water.

 Rainbow bridge river is always so peaceful. There are usually a ton of turtles swimming around while you paddle but this time we didn't see any. Definitely depends on the time of year for them I guess.

It was a great day on the water.

 The other times I paddled Rainbow Bridge. 

1st time 

2nd time

3rd time

The Kids

I have been taking a million photos of these two lately. Bolo is still not feeling well so getting him out to enjoy some fresh air has been a little challenging but I want Emma to have amazing memories of her first puppy.

Wiliwilinui Hike

  The Koolau mountain range runs along the middle of the island...and the views are amazing. You are able to see both sides at one time being that high up. 

Truly Amazing!

Wiliwilinui is one out of five hikes along this specific area.

I have now done three out of the five.

Mariner Ridge

Kuliouou Ridge 1st & 2nd

and now this one. 

 Me fear (of heights) almost got the best of me on this section.

 And after about a hour and a half of stairs, ropes and sweat we made it to the top.

 The view towards Honolulu, Waikiki and Diamond Head.

The view of the Windward side.

3 Peaks hike front and center

 A little cloudy/voggy but still beautiful

 Helicopter in the distance.

  I don't know what I was thinking not bringing my nice camera. I only had my phone with me.  :(

These pictures do not do these views justice.

 Nature is Truly Amazing

A Different Perspective

While on Ford Island, I wanted to stop and feed Emma lunch. I drove into the housing area because 9 out of 10 times there would be a small park there.

I came to a large park with a AMAZING view of the U.S.S Arizona Memorial. 

I had been to the memorial twice before 

1st time 

2nd time

But this time I was looking at if from the opposite side.

At 7:55am on December 7, 1941 the Japanese planes attacked.

The fight lasted less then two hours.

More then 2,500 people lost their lives.

More then 1,000 were wounded.

Almost half of the casualties occurred on the U.S.S Arizona.

It was hit 4 times by the Japanese Bombers.

This was a plaque talking about the "date which will live in infamy".

 This rock was dedicated by the Navy Club of American to all of the men and women who gave their lives.

 Just a little interesting fact: 

Elvis Presley raised $50,000 to help build this monument.  (10% of the memorials final cost)